A journalist in hospital after attack in a BJP public meeting at Bareilly, PCI condemns vehemently

There have been condemnable incidents of attack on journalists while doing reportage during elections bringing the reputation of the fourth estate in jeopardy. In the past there have been incidents of physical attacks on journalists grievously injuring many of them and also brutally killing them for not coming in terms with the ruling political dispensation or not towing their ideological line. In other words not serving their interests. Such brutal attacks on journalists who are the important fourth pillar of our democracy needs to be dealt with severely.

Today at Bareilly one more journalist having gone in a BJP public meeting to cover it in Rae Bareilly addressed by senior BJP leader n home minister Amit Shah and others met with a heavy physical attacks of several unidentified party men even abusing the journo. The video of this attack are going viral in social media abusing the journalist n intimidating him.

According to the latest news the journalist admitted in a hospital being treated by doctors acutely crying in pain in his abdomen namely Raghav was hit repeatedly with punches and feet by several people after surrounding him from all sides in front of the main stage some of them wearing saffron Gamcha.

It is believed that the incident occured after the union minister Amit Shah had left the meeting after his address.

A friend of the injured journalist n cameraman has posted the handwritten complaint addressed to the SHO of the concerned police station of Nagar Kotwali, Bareilly who was present there at the time of the incident, covering the meeting.

According to the hurriedly written complaint in Hindi, the complainant Sanjeet Sahani, cameraman wrote that on 12 th May I went to the public meeting venue along with the journalist of Molitice News to cover the meeting.

After the meeting ended Raghav Trivedi, journalist was talking to some audience eliciting their views to which some of the party workers strongly resented. They started badly abusing him and also hitting him with fist cuffs, punches and feet.

The journalist had come to cover the meeting of honourable HM mentions the complaint. About five to six persons have thrashed Raghav with abuses. He got many injuries. I got Raghav admitted in a district hospital where he is being treated. He requested for necessary action in the matter.

The Congress general Secretary Priyanka Gandhi coming down heavily on BJP for thrashing a scribe at Rae Bareilly published c meeting said in X :

In Raebareli, Raghav Trivedi, a journalist from the @moliticsindia was brutally beaten up by BJP men at the Home Minister’s rally. The Home Minister kept giving his speech while the police kept watching as a mute spectator. The journalist was beaten up only because he had spoken to some women who were saying that they were paid money to attend the rally.

The BJP, which has silenced the entire media of the country, cannot tolerate that any voice is raised against them. The BJP, which is running a campaign to abolish the Constitution, wants to end democracy in this country and snatch away the voice of the people wrote Priyanka Gandhi on social media platform.

Rahul Gandhi annexing the statement of Priyanka wrote in X expressing his anger over this incident : Today there are two types of media in the country – One on whose back the Prime Minister himself pats for spreading ‘lies and hatred’. The second are those who are paying the price of raising the ‘voice of truth’ by risking their lives. Such hooliganism under police protection against a militant journalist who was simply doing his job at a meeting of the country’s Home Minister explains why India ranks 159th in terms of press freedom under the rule of Narendra Modi. We all stand with this brave young man.

Meanwhile, various journalists and media organisations have strongly condemned this attack on a journalist covering the public meeting.

The Press Club of India expressed it strongest concern n condemnation over this incident writing on social media platform X :

The Press Club of India vehemently condemns the attack on journalist, Raghav Trivedi while he was covering the Union home minister, Amit Shah’s rally in Rae Bareli, UP We urge the EC and local authorities to ensure strict action against the attackers. Earlier to this message of condemnation the PCI while expressing their serious view on such incidents said :

Journalists in their day to day reportage have been subjected to regular physical intimidation, harassment and attack. Such things undermine India, being the fourth pillar of democracy.

The former PCI president and senior journalist Umakant Lakhera asked : Modiji isn’t your government accountable for serious life taking attack on a journalist going to cover a public meeting of your home minister Amit Shah. Isn’t your government answerable for this blunder. It is an open fact that people are ferried to rallies on contract but are goons also being brought in such rallies. Were electoral bonds of illegal gratification for such purposes asked senior journalist Umakant Lakhera. Another outspoken journalist Abhisaar Sharma wrote on X in Hindi : This journalist was hit by punches 150 times as Raghav is claiming. The proud and goondaism is on its peak wrote Abhisaar. On another post Lakhera said the above 400 trailer has commenced after such attacks on journalists. For the last ten years this is happening this or that way. Now any field reporter can’t even pose any questions write Umakant Lakhera.